Filing tray



G. Du'rHlEs-rRAcHAN May 7, 1929.

FILING TRAY Filed Aug. 15, 1928 Gore. DuThe-Srolchun Patented May 7, 1929.

prins.'l l

GEORGE DUTHIE-STRACHAN, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FILING TRAY.v

Application filed August 15, 1928. Serial kNo. 299,796.

This invention relates to a tray or drawer for filing correspondence, records and `the like, and has for its ob-ject to provide a tray or drawer. with novel means for dividing it into compartments, and also'for subdividing the rib thereby producing'a rib which has CJO slots along the edge and which has a plain unslotted shoulder bacl of the slotted portion.

I also em loT two series of se arators those P J P of one series being of a proper dimension to fit into the slots of the ribsand constituting adjustable dividersby which the tray .may be divided into fixed compartments, and those of the other series being of a shape and size to rest and slide on the shoulder portions of the ribs, and constituting floating guides by which the fixed compartments maybe subdivided. In using a drawer or tray embodying my invention, the dividers willl be so placed as to formvseparate compartments of the relative size sdesired or needed, and then a sufficient number of -iioating guides will be used to sub divide each compartment into as many sub divisions as is d-eemed necessary. A,

Another feature of my invention relates to a pocket in the drawer or tray in which may be kept data explanatory of the contents of the tray. Y

In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described, after which thenovelfeatures will be pointed out in the appended claims. f

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a tray einbodying my invention; v Fig. 2 1s a perspective sectional view on the line 2-2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a perspective sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. 1,; f j

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective Vview sl'iowing one embodiment of the invent-ion;

Fig. 5 a similar fragmentary perspective view illustrating` a different embodiment of 4 the invention 5 e g a line Y In thedrawings 1 indicates a drawer or tray adapt-ed to be used for filing correspondence'or other records. Itis a common prac` tice to provide a filing tray withv an adjustable follower which can be adjusted into different positions longitudinally of the tray to vary the effective size thereof according to the amount of kmaterial'it contains, and in filing records `it is customaryto employ floating guides to separate the contents in accordance with some desired .method of filing. Some-v times t-hese guides divide the contents alphabetically or chronologically or accordingto subject matter. A

Inmy present invention I providethe tray vor drawer l with Vtwo ribsi2 and 3 which extend4 longitudinally of the tray on the inside thereof at .a slight distance below the top Each rib is provided witha plurality ofvertical slots 4 which, however, are of less depth than the horizontaldimension of the rib. As

a consequence the'slotsextend only part V.way from the edge of the rib tothe base, thereby leaving a plain unslotted surfacer 5 on top of the rib which forms a supportingshoulder. I

I proposeto employ two types of separa# tors, the separators of one type beingconstructed Vso that they will be positioned by the slots 4 and constituting dividers, and the separators of the other type being constructedto rest on the supporting shoulders 5 and constif tutingfloating guides. The separators of the first type, or dividers, Aare indicated at 6, and cach' isgofvsuch a dimension transversely lof the tray that the ends 7 thereof will iit into the slots 4. of. the opposed ribs, as shown inv Figs.V l and 2. l The-separatorsare adapted to rest on the bottomS of the trayul when they are inoperative position, and in order to save material and to produce a separator' which .can be easily handled I may, ifdesired, make each separator' 6 of a general T- shape, the upper portion 10 thereof being of a propel' dimensionto fit. inthe grooves 4 and the lower porti on9 thereof being inthe form of a stem 4which, extends to and rests on the bottoni of the tray. l y l y ll/vhen one or more of the dividers 6' are in' use the'entire tray is divided up into definite com )artments each of which is ada )ted to receive the correspondence or other records rela to particular' subject matter or to lar aipi'labetieal er ebrenetegieai I.

v slide on the shoulders 5. These guides 12may ceiving some notation identifying the mate* rial liled yin the corresponding compartment. In addition to the dividers 6I also employ other separators v12 which are in the natureot floating guides andare adapted to restand also have a general T shape, the upper portion 13 .of each having` a sufficient horizontal dimension so that the ends thereof rest on the compartment. These guides 12 may, if de.-

sired, be provided with tabs 15 toreceive some Videntifying notation.`

My invention also comprehends a construction by which any ordinary filing tray or drawer may be converted into one embodying theteaturesabove described.- To accomplish this the rib 2 is formed on a strip of metal 16 which isada'pted to be secu-red to the sides ,of any ordinary wooden or metal tray or drawer. Inthe illustratedl embodiment of my invention" the strip of metal 16 isin thevform of a piecev of sheet meta-l which is bent or deformedto provide the rib 2', the latter being afterwards'slotted' as shown at 4.

" It thet'ray'l to whichA the invention'i's to be'applied is a wooden tray then the sheet metal-strip 16 willbe formed at its upper edge with the horizontal flangel 17 which overli'es the top edge of the sidewall 18 of the tray,

the strip of metal being'secured in position by. means'of screws 19which are herein shown as passing through the flange 17 and into the wall 18 of the tray. If-the tray 1 is a metal tray then the strip '16 of sheetmetal will'have its upper edgebent back on itself as shown at 20 to forma hoolr portion adapted to hook over the side edge of the side wall 23 of the metal tray. ln either event these'metal strips 16 having" the ribs 2 formed thereon* can be readily applied to any existing tray Y orV drawer',thus cenverting it into one embody'- ing myinventionf. y A further feature of the invention relates toa pocketloca'ted insidethe'tray or drawer 1 for the purpose oircceiving instructions or explanations regarding'the records which are stored in the drawer or tray. Such pocket is shown at 2f andv may conveniently. be formed by a piece of sheet metal 22 which is bent to vthe propershape and is secured to thefront vwall of the tray. This pocket is open at the top so that instruction sheets, or sheets having explanatory. matter thereon, may be easily slipped intothe'pocket or removed'theretrom. Y

' will be `'noted V that thev shoulder 5 on which the gu1des'12 rest are inclined downwardly. The advantage of this is that the portion of the shoulder on which the'ends of the ripper part ,13 of said guides rest 1s above the slots l so that there will be no danger that the guides will become caught in the slots as they are moved back and forth.

1. A liling tray or drawer provided with ribs'extending longitudinally thereofY along the innerface of its side walls, eachrrib having vertical slots extending part wayl only through the rib, whereby each rib presents an unslotted shoulder outside ot the slots,

dividers adapted to 'lit into fthe `slots and therebyv divide the tray into temporarily ixed compartments, and guides constructed toirest and slide onv the shoulders and thereby provide v'for subdividing the,v` compartments.

2. The combination vwith a tray ordrawer, of a strip secured to eachl side wall of the tray and provided with a rib extending lone gitu-dinally oi said wall, 'each rib having vertical slots at yits ridge, said slots extending only part way from Athe ridge to the base ot the rib, whereby the top'suriface of each rib presents a smooth unslotted shoulder, and a plurality of dividers, each adapted to fit into the slcts in the two ribs thereby to forni temporarily fixed compartments, and the guides having portions adaptedfto rest on thel shoulders of the ribs and thereby subdivide each compartment.

3. The combination with a" tray or drawer,

of aI strip secured toeach' side wall of the tray and provided with a rib extending longitudinally of saidy wall,.each rib having vertical slots at its ridge, said-slots "extending only part way from the ridge to the base of the.

rib, whereby the top surface of each rib presents a smooth unslotted shoulder, a plurality oit 'iT-shaped adjustable dividers adapted to fit into the slots of the opposed ribs and thereby divide the tray into temporarilyfixed compartments, anda plurality of T-shaped floating guides adapted to rest on the shoulders of the ribs and thereby provide *for sub-A dividing the compartments.

4. The, combination with a tray or drawer,

of a 'strip' detachably secured to .each side wall'of 'the tray and provided witha rib extending'longitudinally of the wall' and having vertical slots which extend part way from the ridge ot the rib to the base, wherebyieach rib Ypresents a smoothv unslotted shoulder'on its upper surface, a plurality ot T-shaped dividers having the upper portion oi a length to ,be received in said slots thereby to divide 'the tray intoV fixed compartments, and a plurality oli' floating guides having portions and adapted to rest and slide on the shoulders of theribs.V Y Y' 5. A filing tray or drawerprovided withr u ribsextending longitudinally thereofalong the inner face of its side walls, eachV rib havi ing verticalslots extending part way only through the rib whereby each rib presents an subdividing thecompartments, said tray havunslotted shoulder, dividers adapted to t ing'means providing an interior open-ended into the slots of opposed ribsand thereby dipocket at one end to receive sheetseXpiana-- 10 vide the tray into temporarily fixed comtory of the Contents of the tray. r pertinents, and guides which have portions In testimony whereof, Ifhave signed` my adapted to rest and slide on the unslotted name to this specification. shoulders of the ribs and thereby provide for GEORGE DUTHIE-STRACHAN. 

